Professional Certificate in Human Resources
About the Program
UC San Diego Extension’s Professional Certificate in Human Resource Management has helped hundreds
of individuals expand their knowledge of human resource management to enter or progress in the field.
Within the dynamic field of human resources, professionals are rapidly moving beyond the stereotypical
regulation enforcement and paperwork completion into proactive roles as planners and organizational
consultants, earning recognition at the highest levels of the organization. Required courses and
concentration tracks are updated to provide students with the background and techniques to become
effective professionals. Taught by experienced practitioners, courses feature practical applications and
current issues, to be utilized immediately in the workplace.
Certificate Guidelines
The program consists of at least 30 units,
including eight required core classes (24 units),
and completion of at least six units from any of
the concentration tracks or electives courses.
Managing Human Resources: An Overview
(BUSA-40010) is a prerequisite for most of the
other human resources courses.
Students complete the capstone course,
Emerging Trends and Issues in HR Management,
after completing all other required courses-it
cannot be taken concurrently. Please visit the
certificate webpage at extension.ucsd.edu/hr to
view the required and elective courses.
Human Resources courses vary in length. Most
required courses run six to eleven weeks.
Electives vary from four-week short intensives to
quarter-long 11-week courses. Classes typically
meet one evening per week for a three-hour
session. Students can expect to spend three to
five hours per week outside of the classroom.
Class size usually ranges from 10 to 30 students.
Seminars and fieldtrips, such as the HR Career
Night and HR LearnAbouts are offered twice per
year; these events are recommended for
certificate students to stay current on industry
issues, but are not required. Please visit the HR
Exchange website at
extension.ucsd.edu/hrexchange to view
upcoming events.
Certificate Cost
As of 2013, courses cost between $350 and $600
for required courses and elective courses,
excluding textbooks. Approximate cost for the
total program is $5,521.00. The Cost of
Attendance is an estimate of the certificate fee,
course fees and required textbooks needed to
complete a specific certificate program at UC San
Diego Extension. This estimate may vary based
on the requirements of the specific certificate
program chosen by the student. These figures do
not include parking, transportation and personal
expenses. Total cost of program varies
depending on choice of elective courses. Prices
are subject to change.
Certificate Duration
The Human Resources Management program
can be completed in approximately two to two
and half years, depending on prior classes
completed and number of courses taken each
quarter. Students may take up to five years to
complete the program if needed.
Transferring Prior Coursework
Up to two courses taken in the past five years
from an accredited academic institution may be
transferred toward a UCSD Extension
Certificate. Courses should be equivalent in
subject matter and hours of instruction. Please
see “UCSD Extension Certificate Programs” in
our catalog for further requirements regarding
transferring courses. To request transfer
approval, please contact Sheetal Shanbhag at
[email protected] and provide a copy of
your transcript, course description, and the
name of the equivalent UCSD Extension course.
PHR/SPHR Information
Student Services
Courses in the UCSD Professional Certificate in
Human Resources fulfill the educational
requirements, regarding subject matter content
and hours of instruction, towards obtaining the
Professional in Human Resources/Senior
Professional in Human Resources (PHR/SPHR)
designation and recertification. For more
information on obtaining the PHR/SPHR
certification, contact HR Certification Institute via
their website at www.hrci.org .
Our staff values each one of our students and we
are here to offer you personalized, friendly
service. If you want to enroll in a course, request
a transcript, ask about financial assistance or
simply need driving directions – our student
services staff is here to help. Contact us at (858)
534-9999, [email protected], or stop by one of
our locations. For more information on Student
Services, visit extension.ucsd.edu/student.
Industry Affiliations
For additional information, please contact
Sheetal Shanbhag, Program Manager, at
[email protected] or (858) 534-8148.
This program is endorsed by the Compensation
and Benefits Association and the Society for
Human Resource Management (www.sdshrm.org)
Enrolling in the Certificate
Students should enroll in the certificate program
within the first 1-2 courses they complete. To
enroll, students pay a one-time certificate fee of
$60, which can be done by calling (858) 5343400 or visiting extension.ucsd.edu/hr. Students
that enroll are grandfathered into the current
certificate program requirements. If the program
changes in the future, you simply stay with the
program that you originally enrolled in rather than
beginning with new certificate requirements.
Transferring Courses to Other
Programs
If you are considering applying UC San Diego
Extension courses towards a degree at another
university, please consult with the university that
you plan to attend. Transfer policies vary, so
please consult with an academic advisor at your
potential university.
Revised: 2/9/2015